ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of awareness of the prevalence of infection by Helicobacter pylori (HP) and its histopathological characterization in children in Peru. OBJECTIVES: To report the clinical and histopathological characteristics of infection by HP in children in Cayetano Heredia Public Hospital (HNCH) in Lima, Peru. METHODS: Information was obtained on endoscopies and biopsies done on children between July 2003 and November 2006. RESULTS: Biopsies were done in 111 of 210 endoscopies. HP prevalence was 45.9 %(51 out of 111 patients). HP positive patients were older than HP negative (11 versus 8.9 years, p = 0.009). Endoscopic "nodular gastritis" (NG) was HP status dependent(p = 0.001), "oesophagitis" was most frequent among HP negative (p<0.05). 8 out 11 ulcers were HP positive. Histopathological findings in HP positive included more: Inflammation activity - polymorphonuclears (PMNs) in the proper lamina-, Chronic gastritis-lymphomononuclears (LMNs) in the proper lamina-, and Lymphoid follicles. Dysplasia,atrophy or intestinal metaplasia were absent in our biopsies. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of infection by HP was found in children who underwent an upper endoscopy. Metaplasia, atrophy and intestinal dysplasia were absent. The presence of"NG" in the endoscopy, and chronic gastritis, inflammatory activity and lymphoid follicles in the biopsy were independently associated to infection by HP.
